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Quick HitAshlee RezinMonday August 12th, 2013, 4:05pm

As Lakeview Leads Chicago Neighborhoods In Robberies, Tunney Hosts Midnight March Against Crime

In the wake of a recent string of late-night and early-morning armed robberies in Lakeview, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) hosted a midnight march through his North Side ward Friday, in an effort to heighten awareness of the area’s crime hot spots.

"Community walks are an important and effective tool to promote safety and bring neighbors together,” Tunney said in a statement. “Community involvement is a critical component to fighting crime and Friday’s walk showed that we mean business when it comes to public safety."

Starting promptly at midnight on Friday, Tunney was joined by roughly 30 community residents and police officers for an hour-long march through the neighborhood, where two gun-wielding men have staged six robberies in the last three weeks.

“Safety is our number one priority and this walk showed that community is serious when it comes to securing our neighborhood,” said Erin Duffy, director of community outreach for Tunney’s office, who participated in the march that took place just hours before the start of Boystown's Northalsted Market Days Festival.

Duffy, who called the demonstration a “positive loitering walk”, said the neighborhood’s highlighted areas of concern include Halsted Street, between Addison Street and Belmont Avenue, and the corner of Belmont Avenue and Sheffield Avenue. Those particular crime hot spots, she said, are “entertainment areas” with late-night bars that draw people from all over Chicago to the community, increasing the probability for misconduct.

Duffy added that, at a Chicago Alternative Police Strategy (CAPS) meeting last week, community residents received a promise from the Chicago Police Department (CPD) that the neighborhood would soon see an increased police presence and more foot patrol officers on the streets.

“We’ve been working really close with the commander on these issues,” Duffy said.

In the past 90 days, Lakeview’s police beat 1924 has led the city in robberies, which reached 44 on Sunday. Falling in second place is Roseland’s police beat 0511, on the city’s South Side, which had seen 39 robberies by the end of the weekend.

At 119 incidents in the last 12 months, CPD beat 1924 fell in at fifth place for robberies in the city of Chicago. Of the city’s 279 police beats, the South Side's Chatham beat 0623 had the most robberies in the last 365 days, with 156 cases.

“We have a quite a bit of opportunity up here for these criminals to capitalize on,” said Sergeant Jason Clark, with the CPD’s 19th Police District, who participated in the walk.

With 59 incidents as of Sunday, Lakeview’s beat 1924 had more violent crimes in the last 90 days than any other North Side beat. It is also the only beat from that side of the city to rank in CPD’s top 10 for violent crimes.

“It’s a very congested area, and it’s a large entertainment district,” said Clark. “We have a lot of people that are walking around late at night by themselves and on their phone, so that’s where the opportunity is.”

People talking on a cell phone, or texting, while walking home from the bar, he said, has attracted a lot of criminal activity to the area. It’s like “cash-in-hand” for a mugger or stalker, Clark explained.

He added that the increased number of foot patrol officers in the neighborhood should greatly reduce the area’s crime. But, Clark said, it’s also important for residents to stay aware of their surroundings late at night and for the community to report crimes and keep police informed.

“It’s always good to get the community out together,” he said. “We can establish a good working relationship, get us out together, get us talking and we can show them what we have and they can point out issues and let us know what they need.”

Meanwhile, Greg Rohner, treasurer of the local community organization, the Triangle Neighbors Association (TNA), and a participant in Friday’s walk, said the area would not become a “safe neighborhood or a desirable neighborhood” unless people take the initiative to “step up and take ownership of their community.”

“Did we solve any crimes that night? Probably not, but it was a proactive approach to getting the ultimate goal of a safe neighborhood,” said the resident of Lakeview of 16 years.

He added that too often members of the community “play the blame game.”

“We’re never going to have a police officer on every corner, it’s just not going to happen. We have to be the eyes and ears of the community,” Rohner said. “If something doesn’t look right, we need to be able to recognize it and speak out.”

Living on Cornelia Avenue, he said that he often hears people talking on their phones while walking home late at night. More marches such as Friday’s, he added, could help keep people informed of what to do and what not to do.

“It was great to see the neighbors get out and show solidarity and unity, and really work together,” Rohner said. “Anything that gets people out into the neighborhood, and getting to know other people in the neighborhood, is going to help make this a better place.”

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wakeup23

9:03am

Tue Aug 13

“Community involvement is a critical component to fighting crime and Friday’s walk showed that we mean business when it comes to public safety." Really Tom? Roughly 30 people showed up out of the 95,000 that live in Lake View. You mean business! I live in 1924 where all of the robberies are occurring and I didn't even know about this march!! Maybe if you want the community to be more involved you should inform us of such things.

It's the summer and Lake View is the busiest neighborhood (at least for bars) during this period. There are a lot more people out and about late at night and robberies are going to happen. It's not the job of the citizens of the community to stop sidewalk robberies. It's the job of the police. That's what they get paid for.

Greg Rohner, treasurer of the local community organization, the Triangle Neighbors Association (TNA), and a participant in Friday’s walk, said the area would not become a “safe neighborhood or a desirable neighborhood” unless people take the initiative to “step up and take ownership of their community.”

How do you propose we do that Greg?

“We’re never going to have a police officer on every corner, it’s just not going to happen. We have to be the eyes and ears of the community,” Rohner said. “If something doesn’t look right, we need to be able to recognize it and speak out.”

First of all, these robberies aren't happening on every corner. They are concentrated to a few particular areas. It should make it a lot easier for police to know where to focus their patrol. Second of all, the majority of these crimes are being committed in the early morning hours, who in the community is up that late to recognize and speak out when something doesn't look right besides drunk people???? Come on.

The fact of the matter is that this is a safe neighborhood. It's the summer time and this is probably the busiest area in the city during this time with all of the nightlife. We have very few homicides, narcotics arrests, violent assaults and batteries. To call this neighborhood not safe or desirable is a joke. Once the summer winds down so will the robberies.

I'm not sure what Tom Tunney and his 30 marchers are up to but it smells of politics.

Wakeup22

11:46pm

Fri Aug 30

Wakeup23. Thanks for informing me that neighborhood is safe. I was completely unaware you need murders, rapes, and Narcotics to be unsafe.

Such flawed logic. Is violent crime cool. Almost one violent assault and robbery in past 90 days....still cool right? Safe?

I think not....get your head out of your ass. I invite you to check out my face, find my wallet, make my scars disappear on my face, pay my ER bills, and stop by the ER to check out the victims. Also please stop by and check the ringing in my ears. Safe right....Isolated I think not. I met with the commander this week and his begging for resources.

It is not logical to associate murders and narcotics as the definition of a unsafe neighborhood. Wakeup23 before you become a statistic like me.

By the way, this happen a block from Wrgley, practically at my doorstep - not at a bar. Before midnight. Ridiculous comment.

Wakeup22

11:55pm

Fri Aug 30

The one point I agree with is the March is a joke. I was robbed 3 days after the march. Ill give you that.

Wakeup22

11:52pm

Fri Aug 30

Wakeup23. It's disturbing to think we're safe. Lets go for a walk around our the neighborhood. To portray robberies as a normal summertime occurrence is disturbing.

Check out the petition and look at other people's experienced about this safe neighborhood. Read the comments.